While Sterling could accept that Gadanz was motivated by revenge, he believed there were other factors involved as well. When the mission succeeded, chaos would reign. And chaos in the United States would only make Daniel Gadanz wealthier. Gadanz was a passionate man, and he’d loved his brother dearly. But Gadanz rarely did anything without a profit motive somehow involved.
“Given the list you just reeled off, I think everyone will—”
“I want to add three more targets to that list.”
Sterling glanced at the young woman again. A few moments ago Gadanz hadn’t wanted the four women to hear anything. Now he was going to mention specific targets aloud?
“Daniel, I don’t think we should—”
“I’ve come to understand,” Gadanz interrupted, “that the United States operates an intelligence unit, code named Red Cell Seven.”
Sterling had been about to divert the conversation again, before anything crucial was said, so the women would stay clear of danger. But the mention of the cell distracted him. “Red Cell Seven doesn’t exist. I’ve heard rumors of it for twenty years, for as long as I’ve been in this line of work. But it’s just a good spook story.”
“Wrong, Liam. Despite its limited number of agents, it is by far the most elite and effective intelligence entity operated by any country anywhere in the world. It is the unit that last December was responsible for stopping my kill-team attacks on America’s civilian population. It is the unit that flushed me out of my Florida base and from which I escaped at the last possible second. And it is the unit that murdered my brother Jacob.”
This was a fascinating development. Gadanz rarely moved on rumors. The drug lord checked facts carefully. He was meticulous about it. “How do you know?”
“I have a source who has described the cell and its operations to me in such detail that I cannot question the veracity of the information. In the end, everyone has a price for information. Fortunately, I can pay any price. So I can get any information. Just like you have a price for taking on this mission, this person has a price for giving up information.” Gadanz puffed on the cigar as he stared at Sterling. “What makes Red Cell Seven so effective is precisely what makes it impossible for most people to find. It operates autonomously, Liam. It has no formal reporting responsibilities to anyone inside the U.S. government. Not DOD, not any of the intel groups, not Congress — technically, not even the president. Equally important, it is funded completely by private interests. There are no official money trails.”
“It’s hard for me to believe that U.S. officials would allow that kind of cell to exist,” Sterling countered. He still wasn’t convinced that Gadanz had the truth about this. “They’re too concerned with doing the right thing, with political correctness, even if it weakens their country.” He hesitated. “Who is your source?”
“You know better than to ask that,” Gadanz replied sternly.
Sterling shrugged. He hadn’t really expected an answer, but it had been worth a try.
Gadanz tapped another ash over the side of his chair. “In addition to the other targets I mentioned, I want you to kill the man who runs Red Cell Seven. His name is Bill Jensen.”
Sterling’s gaze raced to the young woman, who was staring back at him this time. She had no idea of the danger she was now in because Gadanz had mentioned a specific target.
“For many years Bill Jensen ran a powerful Wall Street firm,” Gadanz continued, “but he led a double life. He ran money for Red Cell Seven at the same time. He raised it in the private sector from wealthy patriots. Now he runs everything. He is the leader of Red Cell Seven.” Gadanz took a deep breath as he gazed at the burning ember on the far end of his cigar. “He’s been in hiding for the last nine months because he fears that elements loyal to the president are trying to kill him.” He chuckled. “So, ironically, in this case my interests and President Dorn’s interests are aligned.”
“Why would elements loyal to President Dorn want to kill Bill Jensen?”
“Because they believe that Jensen and others in Red Cell Seven are trying to assassinate Dorn. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation.”
“Why?”
“President Dorn does not appreciate the cell’s ability to operate autonomously and with total immunity. He detests Red Cell Seven and its tactics.”
“But you just said Red Cell Seven was responsible for stopping your kill-team attacks in the United States last December and for almost catching you. Wouldn’t President Dorn be their biggest advocate? He’s riding a huge wave of popularity because those attacks were derailed so quickly.”
“President Dorn believes that Red Cell Seven was responsible for the attempt on his life last fall. That, of course, trumps any fondness he may have for them stopping my Holiday Mall Attacks.”
The assassination attempt on Dorn had exploded a year ago on an outdoor stage in Los Angeles. Dorn had barely survived after his then — chief of staff had thrown himself in the bullet’s path at the last second and slightly deflected it, Sterling recalled. The bullet had still penetrated Dorn’s chest, but it hadn’t shattered his heart, as it would have without the redirection.
“Why would Red Cell Seven want to kill President Dorn?” Sterling asked.
“As I mentioned before, Dorn detests them. He’s trying to destroy them. He’s trying to eradicate what legally allows them to exist. He hates that they operate without his direction or knowledge. They know this. So they’re trying to kill him first.”
“Maybe Bill Jensen isn’t in hiding,” Sterling said. “Maybe he’s dead. Maybe those elements loyal to Dorn already got him.”
“According to my source, Jensen is a resourceful man, and he anticipated the danger. So he went underground.” Gadanz gestured at Sterling. “Jensen has two sons, Jack and Troy. I want them dead, too.”
“Why?”
“Troy is a Red Cell Seven agent. If you kill his father, he’ll stop at nothing to kill you and me when he finds out I am behind everything, which he most certainly would.”
“Is the other one Red Cell Seven, too?”
“No. Jack’s a bond trader.”
Sterling sneered. “Those Wall Street guys like to think they’re tough, but—”
“Don’t underestimate this one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Last fall Jack saved Troy’s life in Alaska.”
“Why did Troy need to be saved?”
“He’d uncovered the plot to assassinate President Dorn by a senior Red Cell Seven agent named Shane Maddux.”
Sterling’s eyes flashed toward Gadanz. He knew that name. Everyone who was anyone in the spook world did. “Shane Maddux is Red Cell Seven?”
“Apparently.”
“Is he your source?”
“Of course not. Maddux would never give away information about Red Cell Seven. He lives for it.” Gadanz pointed the cigar at Sterling. “If you ask me that question again, Liam, I’ll have you executed immediately.”
Sterling glanced back at the doorway. “Easy, Daniel.” He couldn’t tell if Gadanz was kidding.
“As a matter of fact, if you come across Shane Maddux during this mission, kill him, too. As I understand it, he was one of the men directly responsible for finding and overrunning my compound in Florida last December.” A sad expression clouded Gadanz’s face. “I so liked that compound.”
Sterling glanced at the young woman again. She was definitely smiling back this time. That quickly they’d made a wonderful connection. That quickly he wanted to be her knight in shining armor.